Gear-shifting mechanism



L. W. PENNY.

GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM.

APPucmoN min Nov.1. lsu.

Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

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L. W. PENNY.

GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION msu nov. 1. |911.`

Patented Sept. 30,1919.

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amants L. W. PENNY.

GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM.

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Patented Sepn 3o, 191.9.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS W. PENNY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 HENRY C. PENNY, JR., 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

GEAR-SHIF'IING MECHANISM.

Application led November 1, 1917.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that Louis W. PENNY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gear- Shifting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to gear-shifting mechanism, and one of the objects of the invention is to obtain a simple and inexpensive construction of device by which gears are shifted through the medium of the clutch controlling pedal. Another ob jet-t is to` obtain a construction which may be applied to standard constructions of transmission gearing with but slight change therein. A further and very important object is to obtain a construction in which the mechanism for shifting gears is positively controlled; and further, to obtain various advantages hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the mechanism, the cover of the case being removed;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified construction;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the selector shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified construction;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectionv thereof.

In the present state of the art it is usual in the construction of transmission gearings to provide two or more parallell arranged shifter rods, which are alternatively actuated to-efect the shifting of the gears. It is also usual to form the gear case with a removable cover so as to provide access to the gears. My improved gear-shifting mechanism is preferably mounted as aunit upon a case which is the substitute cover of the gear case, and which when in osi tion will operatively engage the gear s ifting mechanism with the mechanism Within the gear case.

In detail the case A is the substitute cover of the gear case which houses the actuating and controlling mechanism for the parallel shifter rods A and A2 which latter extend beneath the case. The actuating mech- Specificaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

serial No. 199,782.

anisni comprises a pair of heads B and B attached to the ends of the shifter rods A and A2 respectively, and preferably in the form of Hat and comparatively thin plates. These heads are centrally lon itudinally slotted at B2 for the passage o a shaft C mounted in suitable bearings in the case A. D, D', D2 and D are flat and comparatively thin segmental plates pivoted upon the shaft C and arranged in pairs upon opposite sides of the heads B and B. E, E', E2 and Es are pins or lugs projecting from the heads B and B from opposite sides thereof and upon opposite sides of the center of the shaft C. Each of these pins or lugs engages a bearing in one of the segments D, D, D2 and D, and the arrangement is such as to form a coupling between said segments and the heads so that the rocking of any one of the segments will effect a corresponding movement of its coupled head. F is a rock arm keyed or otherwise secured upon the shaft C and preferably bifurcated to embrace the segmental plates D, D', D2 and D3 and the heads B and B'. F is a cross pin at the outer end of the rock arm F upon which are journaled a series of dogs G, there bein one dog for each of the segmental plates D. D2 and D3. F2 is a second cross pin at the outer end of the rock arm F, which cross pin asses throuv'h the elongated apertures G 1n the dogs whereby the latterare permitted a limited freedom of movement. Each dog is adapted to engage a shoulder G2 in its corresponding segmental plate, and 1n the construction shown in Fig. 1 is nor mally pressed in engagement by the universal member H, which may rotate in a clockwise direction against the tension of the sprmg H but is held from rotation in the opposite direction beyond the position shown.

In one position of adjustment of the rock arm F the dogs G extend into operative relation with the selector I, which is preferably a rotary member having the projecting lugs I', I2, I3 and I* for respectively engaglng the dogs G in different positions of rotative adjustment to hold the dog engaged in en agement with its respective segment and s oulder G2 on said se ment, the arrangement being such that t e selector enrages the dog before the latter is disengaged rom the universal member.

The selecto;` I is provided with suitable means for yieldaibly maintaining the sinne iu its different positions of zuljustnient. As shown, the selector l is provided with peripheral recesses Jl with which the ball J is engagenble, the latter being yieldably held inengugeinent by the coil spring- JL abutting the screw lug J3 in the Woll ol the case A. The screw lug is adjustable. to vary the tension upon the springv and is locked in position by the lock nut J.

The rock arm F is connected through suitable linkage (not shown) to the operating pedal for the clutch, the roclr arm having sulicient lost motion from its normal position to the position where the dogs G engage the shoulders G2 to permit ot' the engagement and disengagement ot the clutch with the engine fly-wheel by the pedal without affecting the transmission gearing.

With the Qimstruction :is described the selector lr is actuated by any suitable connection (not Shown) which is under control of the operator, so that the device may he set for any j nedetermineil gear shift. Normally, when the clutch is in engagement with the fly wheel, the parts are in the po sition shown in Fig. l, and the initial o)- eration of the pedal for disengaging tie clutch will merely rock the arm F without bringing any of the dogs into engagement with the shoulders upon the segmental plates. If, however, the pedal is further actuated the arm F will be rocked to a point where one of the (logs G will engage the shoulder G2 upon one of the segmental plates, and the dog being held in positive en dagement therewith by the universal mem er H will upon Continued rocking of the erm F return the segmental plate and its shifter rod to neutral position. At this point all the dogs are in engagement with the' shoulders G2 of all the segments. If the selector has been set for a. predetermined gear shift, upon further rocking of the arm F in the same direction, one of the dogs G corresponding to the projecting lug upon the selector adjusted to operative position will be positively held in engagement with its respective segmental plate and will actuate said` plate to shift the gear shifter attached thereto, the remaining dogs being free to ride over the shoulders G2 of the other segments. At the completion of this movement the pedal controlling the clutch may be returned to engage the clutch with the fly Wheel, the dogs riding overi the peripheries of the segments and rockingV the universel. member H in so doing. T'he operation is the same in all positions of the selec tor, with the exception that a different dog is actuated in each position and thecorrespending .segment actuated thereby.

The construction is one in which the selector positively controls the shifting of the gear sliittersto their adjusted positions and in which the. universal member also pos itively controls the shitting ot' the gear shifters to their neutral posilious. Fur thermorc, the coimlrlu'iion is one, which is exceedingly simple am! inexpensive lo uuuul'aeture, as the .segmental plate (i, (1" (l2 and (l3 and the heads l and B mayy be i'orniod` from stunipings. requiring no mav chine work.

ln the modified construction shown in Figs. 3 and l the gear shitters are shifted to operative position by a movement of the rock arm in the opposite direction. The (logs G are provided with opposed yshoulders K and K for respectively engaging the shoulders L and L ot the projections L2 upon the segmental pluies D. D, l)3 :nul IY". The shoulder K is in such relation to the pin F that it will always positirel)Y engage with the corresponding' shoulder L lo return thil segmental plate to its` neutral position. The opposed shoulder K will not. bonen-rr, remain in engagement with the projection S excepting where it is held from disengagement. The selector I is provided with projectinglugs or pins M, M M2 and lili* for registering with the ditereut dogs, and the arrangement is such that when any one of said lugs or pins is Vadjusted into the proper position it will hold the dog G against its segment and temporarily pren vent disengagement o'l the shoulder K from the shoulder L. This will cause' the rocking of the segment upon opposite movement of the rock arm F` which scg'i'nent will be released when the end of the dog passes beyond its holding lug or pin M` M', M2. or M3.

In the use of the above modified mecha nism it may he at times that the segments D, D', D2 and D5 will not be exactly positioned, and to avoid possibili-ty of jamming of the mechanism due to this cause. the following provision has been made: The se-l lector I instead of being positively keyed to its actuating shaft has e limited lost motion thereon,` being provided with a. pin N which engages a, slot or recess N in a collar N2 fixed to the shaft. NS is a spring sleeved u on the shaft and tensioned to normally holid the selector `with the pin N at one end of the slot N. This construction prevents the jamming of the parts, as the dog G if notin proper en agement with the projection L2 will stri te against the selector in selected, turning the selector against t e tension of the vspring N 3 until the `dog slipsinto proper engagement, after which the resiliency ot the spring returns the selector to a. position Where the selected pin again performs its function.

In the operation of this modiiied construction, the selector holds the selected dog inipositive engagement until it hns properlyl shifted the corresponding segmental plate, at which time the end of the dog slips oi' from the end of the selector lug or pin and prevents further movement. In the opposite movement of the dog the shoulder K positively engages and returns the segmental plate to neutral position.

In the modified construction shown by Figs. 5, G and 7, the shifter rods A and A2 are mounted in the case A and the actuating and controlling mechanism are housed in an extension of the case. Each dog G is adapted to engage a notch or shoulder 0 in its corresponding segmental plate and is normally pressed toward engagement by the tension of the spring O. O2 is a projection or tail piece on each dog, which in one position of adjustment of the rock arm F extends into operative relation With the selector I. This selector has vthe cam portions lJ for engaging the tail pieces 02 of the different dogs in different positions of adjustment, so as to disengage all but one of the dogs from their corresponding notches The arrangement is such that by rocking the rock arm F any one of the dogs may be selected to operate, so that during the rocking of the arm F the selected dog will couple said rock arm to the corresponding segment, and by rocking the latter Will cause the head B or B to .be actuated, which in turn adjusts the corresponding shifter rod A or A2. Q are trips for engaging the tail pieces O2 of the dogs to uncouple said dogs after the desired movement has been im parted.

The operation of this modified construction is similar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 with the exception that the dogs are not positively forced into engagement with the segmental plates to either shift the shifter rods to neutral or operative positions. The springs upon the dogs yieldably force the dogs toward the segment While the selector disenga es all the dogs with the exception of that esired to be kept in engagement and the trips disengage all the dogs to revent further movement of the segments aijter the :same have been shifted.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A gear shifter comprising a shifter rod, a plurality of rockab-le members coupled With said rod to actuate the same, a plurality of dogs peripherally engageable with said rockable members, means for moving said dogs about the peripheries of said rockable members, and means for positively oontrolling the engagement of said dogs with said rockable memlbers.

2, A gear shifter, comprising a shifter rod, a plurality of rockable members coupled with said rod to actuate the same, a rock arm, means carried by said rock armen; gageable with the respective rockable members, and means for positively controlling the engagement of said means with said rockable members.

3. A gear shifter, comprising a shifter rod, a p urality of rockable members coupled With said rod to actuate the same, a rock arm, dogs carried by said rock arm engageable with the respective rockable members, and a selector engageable with said dogs to positively hold the same in engagement with their respective segments.

4. A gear shifter attachable as a unit to the transmission having a shifter rod, said gear shifter oomprisinga flat head connected to said shifter rod, a plurality of flat rocka-fble members coupled with said head to actuate the same, a rock arm, means carried by said rock arm engageable with the respective rockable members, and a selector controlling said means to alternatively engage the same.

5. A gear shifter attachable as a unit to the transmission, comprising a casing adapted to form the cover plate of the transmission, a shifter rod mounted in said casing, a flat head connected to said shifter rod, a plurality of Hat rockable segments coupled to said shifter rod to actuate the same in opposite directions by a rocking movement in the same direction, a plurality of dogs peripherally engageafble with said segments, means for moving said dogs about the periphery of Said segments, and a selector controlling the engagement of said dogs with sald segments.

6. A ear shifter, comprising a shifter 100 rod, a p urality of rockable members coupled With said rod to actuate the same, and a common means for engaging and actuating said rockable members to move said shifter rod to neutral and to operative posi- 105 tions While bein moved in one direction.

7. A gear shifter, .comprising a shifter rod a plurality of rockable members coupled with said rod to actuate the same in opposite directions by a movement in the same 110 direction, a common means engageable with and adapted to actuate said rockable members to move said shifter rod to neutral position and subsequently to operative position While said common means is moving in one 115 direction, and positive control means for alternatively malntaining said common means in engagement with said rockable members while moving said shifter rod to operative position.

8. A ear shifter, comprising a shifter rod, a g'lurality of rockable members coupled Wit said rod to actuate the same, a plu-- rality of dogs peripherally enga eable with said rockable members, means or moving 125 said dogs about the peripheries of said rockable lnembers and means for controlling said dogs whereby during a portion of the movement of the dogs in one direction the gear shifter rod is moved to neutral position 130 and during a subsequent. Iiortiion otthe movement ot the dogs in (he saine direction, the shifter' rod is moveitto operative position. u i

Sl. A 'gear shil'tcr, comprising :L ishil'ter rod` a plurality ol' roc-,liable membersconpled with saidrod to artilate the same, a roch arm` dogs" iarried liyisaid roel( .arm en-v gageable with said rorlable members to arl nate the same, a pivoted member for pos1- tively retaining said dogs in engagement with said roc'lrable members during a portion of the travel of the formerY` and a Selector for alternatively retaining said'doe's positively in engagement. with their roc able members dnrin a subsequent portion of the travel of the cogs.

10. A gear shifter', comprising a shifter rod, a plurality of rockable members conpled with said rod to artnate the saine. said members having peripheral cam portions. :i rock arm, dogs carried by said rock :lrxn engageahle peripherally with the respective rorliable members and theircam portions, means for positively retaining said dogs 1n engagement with said roclzible members and cam portions during a portion of the travel of the former to return the shifter rod to neutral position, and meansv for alternatively retaining said dogs positively in engagement with the rockable members and their cam portions during a subsequent portion of the travel of the dogs to move said shifter rod to operative position.

11. A gear shifter, comprising a shifter rod. a pluralityv of roekable members ronpled with said rod to aetuate the saine. a rock arm, dogs Carried by said rock arm cngageable with the respective rockable inembers, an adjustable selector engageable with said dogs to alternatively hold the same'iin positive engagement with their respective rockable members, and a detent member for yieldably maintaining said selector in its adjusted position.

12. A gear' shifter, comprlsmg a shifter rod, a lurality of rockable members conpled with said rod to actnateithesame, a. rockable member, means carried by the lastmentioned roclrable member for engaging the first-mentioned rockable members, and a selector for engaging said means to control the alternative engagement thereof with said first-mentioned roel'abl'e members,

13. A gear shifter, com rising a shifter rod, a plurality of rockab e members coupled with said rod to actuate the same, a rock-arm, ivoted members carried by said roclearm or engaging said rockable meinybers, mea-ns for maintaining said pivoted members normally in engagement with said rockable members, and a selector for engaging said pivoted members to 'control the alternative engagement thereof with said ronkable members. N

14. A gear shifter, comprising a shifter rod, a plurality of rockable segments conpled with said rod to actuatc the same, a rockerm, dogs carried by said rock-arm respectively corresponding to said segn'ients and engagenble therewith, and a selector conltrolling snld dogs to alternatively engage the same.

15. A gear shifter, con'iprising a shifter rod. a plurality of roclnible segnients con pled to said rod to respectively actnate the same in opposite directions, a rock-arm. dogs carried by said roelr'arm for respectively engaging said segments, and a selector for engaging said dogs to control tlieengagement and disengagement of the same from said segments.

1G. A gear shifter, eon'iprising a plurality nl' shifter members, a plurality of rockable seginmils adjacent to earh of said shifter .members and ronpled to attuate the saine in different directions. a rock-arm. a plurality of dogs carried by said rock arm and rt-.slwctively engagealile with said segments to aetnate the same, and a selector for en gaging said dogs to control the alternative engagement of the same with their respective segments.

17. A gear shifter, comprising a shifter member. a plurality of roekable segments coupled to said shifter member to actuate the same in opposite directions by a rocking movement in the same direction, a roekarm` a plurality of dogs carried by said roi-lrfxrm peripherally engageable with said segmentsv` and a selector tor engaging said dogs to control the alternative engagement or disengagement of the same from the respective segments.

18. A gear shifter` comprising a shifter rod having a tlat head, a plurality of flat rockable members arranged parallel to and coupled with said flat head to actuate the same, a rock-arm, means carried by said rocknrm for engaging said Hat rockable members, and a selector controlling said means to alternatively engage the same.

19. A gear shifter, comprising a shaft, a shifter member, a Hat head connected to said shifter member, said head being Slotted for the passage of said shaft, a plurality `of flat rockable members arranged in parallelism, pivot/ad upon said shaft, said flat rockable members being coupled to said fiat head eccentrically of said shaft, a rock-arm, means carried by said rock-arm for engaging said rockable members, and a selector for controlling said means to alternatively engage the same.

20. A gear shifter, comprising a plurality of parallelly movable shifter members, flat heads connected to said shifter members arranged in parallelism,` a plurality of flat rockable members for each of said shifter members arranged parallel thereto, said rockable members being pivoted centrally to said heads and the members for each shifter member being coupled to the respective heads eccentrically on opposite sides of the pivot, a rock-arm, means carried by said rock-arm for engaging said rockable members, and a selector for controlling the alternative engagement of said means with said rockable members.

21. In a gear shifter, the combination with a plurality of shifter rods, of fiat heads attached to said shifter rods arranged parallel to each other, a plurality of rockable segments arranged in pairs upon opposite sides of said flat heads, the members of said pairs being coupled to the intermediate head on opposite sides of the axis of the segment, a rock-arm, a plurality of dogs carried by said rock-arm and individually engageable with the respective segments, and a selector for engaging said dogs to control the alternative engagement thereof with said segments.

22. In a gear shifter, the combination with a plurality of shifter members, of Hat heads connected to said Shifters and arranged parallel to each other, a plurality of fiat segments pivoted centrally of said heads and arranged in pairs on o posite sides thereof, eccentric couplings letWeen said segments and said heads upon opposite sides of the axis, a rock-arm, a plurality of dogs carried by said rock-arm and individually engageable with the respective segments, and a selector for engaging said dogs to control the alternative engagement thereof with said segments.

23. A gear shifter, comprising a plurality of parallelly movable shifter members, at heads connected to said shifter members arranged in parallelism, at segments arranged in pairs upon opposite sides of said lat heads, said segments being pivoted centrally of said heads and the members of said pairs being coupled to said heads eccentrically on opposite sides of the pivot, a rockarm, a' plurality of dogs carried by said rock-arm adapted to individually engage the respective segments, and a selector for engaging said dogs to control the alternative engagement thereof with said segments.

24. In a gear shifter, the vcombination with a lurality of parallelly-movable shifter ro s, of sheet metal stamped heads secured to said rods and arranged in parallelism with each other, a plurality of stamped sheet metal segments arranged in pairs upon opposite sides of said stamped heads and having a common axis or pivot` arranged centrally of said heads, eccentric couplings between the members of said pairs of segments and the intermediate head upon opposite sides of the axis of the segment, a rock-arm, a plurality of dogs carried by said rock-arm and engageable individually with the respective segments, and a selector for engaging said dogs to control the alternative engagement thereof with said segments.

25. A gear shifter, comprising a casing adapted to form the cover plate of the transmission, shifter rods mounted in said casing and parallelly movable therein, a lateral extension of said casing, flat heads for said shifter rods arranged in parallelism within said lateral extension of the casing, a plurality of pairs of flat rockable se ents arranged upon opposite sides of said flat heads and eccentrically coupled therewith upon opposite sides -of the axis thereof, a rock-arm, a plurality of dogs carried by said rock-arm and individually engageable peripherally with the respective segments, and a rotary selector having cam portions for engaging said dogs to control the alternative engagement of the same with their respective segments.

26. A gear shifter, comprising a shifter rod, a plurality of rockable members coupled with said rod to actuate the same, a plurality of dogs peripherally engageable with said rockable members, means for moving said dogs about the peripheries of said rockable members, means common to all of said dogs for holding the same in engagement with the rockable members during a portion of the movement of the dogs, and means for alternatively holding said dogs in engagement with the rockable members during another portion of travel of the dogs.

27. A gear shifter, comprising a shifter rod, a plurality of rockable members coupled with said rod to actuate the same, a plurality of dogs peripherally engageable with said rockable members, means for moving said dogs about the peripheries of said rockable members, a universal member for engaging all of said dogs to hold the same in engagement with the rockable members during a portion of the travel of said dogs, and a selector for individually engaging said do to hold the same in engagement with t e rockable members during another portion of the travel of said dogs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. i

LOUIS W. PENNY.

(Jopie: of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. 0." 

